Gallery 444444 Post St.: A family owned gallery exhibiting sculptures, paintings and prints by a variety of international artists throughout the last two decades. These include surrealist, oil on canvas works by William Johns and oil paintings, lithographs and etchings portraits of felines by Swiss artist D d Moser. (415) 434-4477, www.gallery444.com.

Photo: Stephanie Wright Hession, Special To The Chronicle

Gallery 444444 Post St.: A family owned gallery exhibiting...

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Kensington Park Hotel450 Post St.: After a day of shopping and touring, you may want to unwind with a seafood dinner at Farallon stay or with an overnight stay at this boutique hotel. Built in the 1920s, it s rich with gothic architectural details combined with modern amenities. (415) 956-6969, www.farallonrestaurant.com, (415) 788-6400, www.kensingtonparkhotel.com.

Photo: Stephanie Wright Hession, Special To The Chronicle

Kensington Park Hotel450 Post St.: After a day of shopping and...

Image 10 of 12

Magic, Nature, Logic, muralHemlock Street (At Larkin Street near Post Street): Images of a tiger devouring a rooster, a knowing dragon, a fearful pig and other animals of the Chinese zodiac adorn the wall of a corner building. They re elements of a 2009 mural created by participants in the Precita Eyes Urban Youth Arts program. (415) 285-2287, www.precitaeyes.org.

Post Street, S.F.: In early December, people crowd the sidewalks and hold shopping bags while passing by holiday vignettes. The festive season provides an array of diversions, from boutiques to urban murals to the pageantry of lights and displays.

2. 'Magic, Nature, Logic' mural

Hemlock Street (at Larkin Street): Images of a tiger devouring a rooster, a knowing dragon, a fearful pig and other animals of the Chinese zodiac adorn the wall of a corner building. They're elements of a 2009 mural created by participants in the Precita Eyes' Urban Youth Arts program. (415) 285-2287. www.precitaeyes.org.

3. San Francisco Playhouse

450 Post St.: The San Francisco Playhouse makes its home inside an intimate theater on the second floor of the Kensington Park Hotel. Artistic director Bill English and producing director Susi Damilano co-founded the theatre company in 2003. "Storefront Church" plays through Jan. 11. (415) 677-9596. www.sfplayhouse.org.

4. Kensington Park Hotel

450 Post St.: After a day of shopping and touring, you may want to unwind with a seafood dinner at Farallon or with an overnight stay at this boutique hotel. Built in the 1920s, it's rich with Gothic architectural details combined with modern amenities. (415) 956-6969, www.farallonrestaurant.com, (415) 788-6400. www.kensingtonparkhotel.com.

5. Gallery 444

444 Post St.: This family-owned gallery has shown works by a variety of international artists throughout the past two decades. These include Surrealist, oil-on-canvas works by William Johns and paintings, lithographs and portraits by Swiss artist DéDè Moser. (415) 434-4477. www.gallery444.com.

6. Morton's the Steakhouse

400 Post St.: At Morton's, stop in at Bar 12·21 for a libation and a jumbo shrimp cocktail, mini crab cake BLTs, four petite, filet mignon sandwiches and other bites specially priced from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. (415) 986-5830. www.mortons.com/sanfrancisco.

PARKING

Extremely limited metered parking on Post Street. A better bet is parking in one of the public parking garages in the area.

GETTING THERE

Public transit: From the Powell Street BART/Muni Metro Station, walk up four blocks on Powell Street and turn left onto Post Street. A number of Muni routes serve the area, including Nos. 2, 3, 19, 27 and 38. www.bart.gov, www.sfmta.com.

By car from the South Bay: Take Highway 101 north to San Francisco and merge onto Interstate 80 east. Exit onto Seventh Street, cross Market Street and turn left on McAllister Street. Then turn right on Leavenworth Street and right on Post Street.

GOOD TO KNOW

Lace up a pair of skates and take a whirl on the ice - or try not to fall - at the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink in Union Square. Skating sessions last 90 minutes and begin on every even hour. Admission: $11 adults, $7 for 8 and younger (group rates available). Skate rental: $5 each. Through Jan. 20. (415) 781-2688. www.unionsquareicerink.com.